Senior Planner (Safety)

Summary

The hiring salary range for this position is $6,391.32 - $7,984.46/month or $3,195.66 - $3,992.23/semi-monthly depending on qualifications.

The Transportation Planning and Operations division is growing, and we’re looking for motivated and creative people to join our team. DRCOG is the largest metropolitan planning organization in the mountain west and is leading exciting and innovative regional transportation initiatives. DRCOG plans for and allocates funding to transformative transportation projects that support multimodal mobility for residents and visitors throughout the Denver region. Come join our dynamic team of transportation professionals focused on projects like regional Vision Zero, active transportation, bus rapid transit corridors, complete streets, air quality and climate, mobility analytics, emerging mobility, and regional transportation operations and technology.

We are currently recruiting a Senior Safety Planner to lead regional Vision Zero initiatives, including maintaining the Taking Action on Regional Vision Zero plan, one of the nation’s first regional Vision Zero commitments. This position will also support regional safety initiatives around crash data, lead the Regional Vision Zero Working Group, and develop a safety program to achieve zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries in the Denver region.

The Denver Regional Council of Governments serves as a visionary leader along Colorado’s central front range. We tackle the BIG issues, like growth and development, transportation, and meeting the needs of older adults. Our success is built on, and defined by, long-standing partnerships and serving as a forum for discussing these and other emerging issues in an effort to collectively find innovative solutions. DRCOG is a Regional Planning Commission per Colorado state statute and is the federally designated Area Agency on Aging (AAA) and Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Denver region. Our culture and values fuel and inform the work we do. Employees are rewarded with competitive compensation, generous benefits, and an adaptable work environment. Sound like a good fit? We’d love to meet you!

Description of Work

This class specification represents only the core areas of responsibilities; specific position assignments will vary depending on the needs of the Division.

Advances the agency’s regional safety and Vision Zero planning and implementation efforts through analysis of traffic crash data, maintaining and evolving the Regional Crash Data Consortium and Regional Vision Zero Work Group, and using traffic safety and crash data to identify safety priorities and solutions.

Provides leadership on varied planning activities supporting regional plans and projects; provides consultation regarding various studies and initiatives.

Serves as planning subject matter expert in areas of assignment; performs and directs complex research tasks; develops and evaluates processes; makes recommendations for modifications to data collection methods and processes.

Applies for and implements grant-funded planning and project implementation activities, such as through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 405c grant program, the Federal Highway Administration Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program, and related federal, state, and other grant funding opportunities.

Leads collaboration with partner agencies, the public, stakeholders, and others in areas of assignment; prepares materials for presentations, print and web distribution to communicate technical findings and policy recommendations to diverse audiences, including the DRCOG Board and committees.

Provides technical assistance to local governments and other regional stakeholders; works closely with communities to develop strategies to advance grant and program activities.

Demonstrates a commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working environment, both through internal and external participation.

Performs other duties of a similar nature and level as assigned.

Leading activities associated with continued implementation of and updates to DRCOG’s Taking Action on Regional Vision Zero Plan to eliminate all traffic crash fatalities;

Lead DRCOG’s safety-related planning activities and continue to build DRCOG’s regional Vision Zero program, including but not limited to:

Applying, refining, and updating the High Injury Network for analysis and as a tool to help prioritize projects for funding and implementation;

Conducting roadway and site-level traffic safety analyses and present recommendations to implementing agencies;

Participating in stakeholder/allied safety meetings, events, trainings, and initiatives at the local, regional, state, and federal levels;

Leading DRCOG’s Regional Vision Zero Work Group;

Building DRCOG’s safety-related data, information, maps, resources, tools, trainings, and other elements of a robust safety program for the region;

Working with CDOT, RTD, local governments, and other stakeholders to identify safety corridors and projects for priority funding and implementation;

Collaborate with and assist the other safety planner in evolving the roles and work activities of the Regional Crash Data Consortium;

Support the other safety planner in activities associated with:

Collaborating with the Consortium and other stakeholders to identify solutions and recommendations for safety and traffic crash data and processing improvements and accompanying implementation;

Leading or assisting with current grant-funded activities, and apply for implement grant-funded activities addressing safety planning, projects, and programs;

Representing DRCOG with the Colorado Traffic Records Coordinator and Statewide Traffic Records Advisory Committee to coordinate data and efforts related to crash data processing and crash record improvements;

Expanding DRCOG’s stakeholder relationships and partnerships with law enforcement, state agencies, and others involved in processing and using safety and traffic crash data.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Principles and practices of urban and regional transportation planning and/or engineering;

Principles and practices of project and program administration and management;

Practices and methods of coaching and leading the work of others;

Techniques and methods for organizing, prioritizing, assigning, and monitoring work;

Principles and methods of qualitative and quantitative research and data analysis;

Principles and applications of critical thinking and analysis;

Best practices, trends, and emerging technologies in local and regional planning;

Effective communication techniques, including writing and public presentations oriented to a variety of audiences;

Principles and practices of group facilitation and building consensus;

Computer hardware and software programs, which may include Microsoft Office, Internet applications, and GIS.

Processes, workflows, and requirements for traffic crash data collection, reporting, and processing;

Traffic crash data analysis;

Principles and practices of group facilitation and building consensus;

Principles, practices and methods of data development and quality assurance;

Effective communication techniques, including writing and public presentations oriented to a variety of audiences;

Computer skills including data processing in Microsoft Office products, scripting, or database management systems;

Basic geospatial principles such as coordinate systems.

Proficiency with digital accessibility, including techniques and best practices for writing, presenting, remote meetings, document creation, and the design, development, and testing of data-centric embeddable and exportable graphics.

Managing a project or program, including development, monitoring and execution of scopes, schedules, budgets;

Providing consultation and serving as a program liaison and subject matter expert;

Compiling and sorting data and articulating issues and recommendations;

Facilitating large stakeholder groups and building consensus;

Authoring and preparing original reports, documents and presentations;

Understanding and defining project needs and creating project work programs;

Providing direction to others to meet standards;

Training and coaching staff;

Facilitating group discussions and building consensus;

Exercising political acumen, tact and diplomacy;

Planning, coordinating, and implementing programs, projects, events, and activities;

Interpreting and applying applicable laws, regulations and organizational policies;

Critical thinking; using logic and reason to solve problems;

Providing excellent customer service;

Utilizing communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisors, the public and others to sufficiently exchange or convey information;

Working in a team environment and maintaining effective working relationships with other team members and planning partners;

Creative problem-solving skills to gather relevant information to solve vaguely defined practical problems;

Being self-directed and able to accomplish tasks with limited supervision and/or follow-up.

Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning, geography, public administration or directly related field and four to six years of related professional planning experience. A Master’s degree is preferred. OR An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above, unless otherwise subject to any other requirements set forth in law or regulation.

Licensing/Certifications:

Valid Colorado Driver’s License and access to an automobile, or to substantively equivalent alternative transportation.

Status:

Full-time, Exempt

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